Loose leaf binder



prrfiil 3'0, 193.. H. R. MCCLEARY LOOSE LEAF BINDER Filed June 20, 1932 ATTORNEY.

Patented Apr. 30, 1935 LOOSE LEAFBINDER Henry R. McCleary, Oak Park, Ill., assignor to Wilson-Jones Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Massachusetts Application June 20, 1932, Serial No. 618,167

15 Claims.

This invention relates to a loose leaf binder and more particularly to a binder of the compression type having covers which may be adjusted to accommodate different thicknesses of sheets.

It is an object of this invention to provide a loose leaf binder having a pair of separable back sections that may be easily aligned and compressed to fit the contents-of the binder. It is a further object of this invention to provide readily releasable means for preventing separation of the back sections: of the loose leaf binder. It is a further object of this invention to provide simple and efficient means for uniting the cover sections to the back sections of the binder. It is a further object of this invention to provide means for so mounting the sheets in a loose leaf binder that the ratio of the usable width of the sheets to the width of the binder is greatly increased. Other objects of this invention will become apparent upon reading the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of the binder with parts broken away to facilitate illustration of the structure;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary detail, partly in section, illustrating the locking structure;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary detail illustrating a modification; and

Figure 4 is a perspective view illustrating .a modified pawl releasing means.

In the drawing the reference numerals 2 and 3 designate a pair of complementary metal sections that constitute the back of the binder. The section 2 has its outer edge bent upwardly to form a side wall t. The edge portion is then bent back upon itself, as indicated at 5, to form a recess 6 in which one edge of a cover member l is clinched. The other cover member 8 is similarly secured to the outer edge of the section 3. This method of securing the covers to the back sections greatly simplifies the manufacture of the binders in that it eliminates the necessity of using any adhesives.

The side walls 4 have integral tabs 9 bent therefrom to form prongs upon which a plurality of loose sheets It may be impaled. Although the prongs 9 are shown flat, it is obvious that they may be bent to form round posts if desired. The

prongs are bent flush with the top of the side,

walls ,4. .This construction is particularly advantageous in that it allows the sheets NJ to lie substantially flat so that a minimum of space is wasted at the inner margin. Other binders having prongs below the top of the side wall must allow additional space where the sheets are bent up over the top of the side wall. If desired, the prongs 9 may be formed separately and then secured to the back sections by welding or riveting.

Each end of the back section 2 is provided with a ratchet H. As shown in the drawing, the ratchet is formed by cutting through the metal and bending small tabs out of the plane of the section 2. However, the ratchet may be formed in a number of-ways, as by crimping or embossing-the metal, but cutting out small portions of the metal to form a plurality of apertures, or by welding or riveting a separately formed strip of suitably shaped metal to the section 2. If desired, the section 2 may be formed with a saw tooth end to serve as a ratchet.

The section 3 has an integral member i2 bent back at each end of the section to form a pair of channels it in which the ends of the section 2 are adapted to slide. The member 52 extends far enough to cover the entire width of the ratchet H. A spring pawl I4 is positioned directly over the member l2. One end of the pawl M is clinched between the side wall 4 and an integral tab l5 bent back against the side wall inside the recess 6. The top of the side wall 4 is split longitudinally for a short distance, as indicated at it, to facilitate positioning of the pawl I 4 and the tab l5. The cover 8 positioned between the member 5 and the tab I5 serves as a resilient backing for the tab l5 and strengthens the clinching action of the tab l5 and the side wall t on the pawl 14. The pawl i4 can'be secured to the back section 3 by welding, riveting or soldering, but the method described above is preferable because of its simplicity, emciency and economy.

The free end of the pawl i4 is curved downwardly, as indicated at I l. The pawl it is slightly longer than the member 12 so that the end It projects beyond the member l2 a distance just sufficient to allow it to engage the ratchet- H. The pawl I 4 is so shaped that its body is substantially parallel to and adjacent the top surface of the member l2 for a considerable portion of its length when the end M of the pawl is in engagement with the ratchet H.

A metal strap or ring I! is slidably mounted on the pawl l4. When the ring i1 is moved toward the end M of the pawl it it contacts with the upper surface of the member i2 and forces the pawl upwardly out of engagement with the ratchet l I. The back sections 2 and 3 may then be moved in either direction. When the ring i1 is moved away from the end M the spring action of the pawl moves the end I4 into engagement with the ratchet ll so as to prevent outward movement of the back sections. The ring I! is provided with a roughened surface I8 at its top to facilitate manual operation of the ring. A suitable lug or flange may be provided on the ring instead of the roughened. surface.

The modification shown in Figure 3 is the same as the binder shown in Figures l and 2 except that one back section 19 is provided with a slot 2 and the other back section 2! is provided with a lug 22. The lug 22 fits in the slot 20 to form a hinge connection. This construction is advane tageous in preventing complete separation 9f the back sections and in facilitating alignment of the sections.

In Figure 4 I have shown a rod 23 secured to one back section 24 by meansof a pair of straps 25. The rod 23 is provided with a pair 9f projec: tions adjacent the straps 25 to abut said t aps an e en lon i udi al movem n of the edanother pro ection 31 en the rod 213 is pos e und eac awl 2 On end of the ed s b nt t form a ha dle The operator ma a p he han le 2.9 d otate the rod 23. T e pr ctio s 3 wi l s multane usly l ft both pewls 23 ut of n a men w th the espective ratchets 30.

hi I h e described a referred embodimen o my in ention in eatdetail, it will be nder to d ha h descri tion. thereof is plustrati e er than estri ive and many details a be mod fie o chan ed, without depart n m th pirit er cope o the invention Acerd ns I d not des re to be estricted t th exact r c ur des rib d e c pt as. limited by the appended claims,

I a loose af bind r, a back m mber havns an outer ed e flan e. b nt b ck upon itself o form a ch n and a c ver member fittin in said hanne a d c in hed t erein, by said flange.

2- n a loose eaf bin er a. back memb a ns a ou e ed l nge bent back upon, itself to.- eline a e er m mbe in osi ion, and a prong formed in e a ly ith said back member and dapted h a p ural t r loose sheets.

In a loos leai binder, a bac a pair of d u le W l d i wa s extendin al n the. edges of said back, and a plurality of prongs extending from the bight of said side walls transversely of said back at, substantially the same height as the height of said side walls, whereby a plurality ofleaves mounted on said prongs may lie substan-v tially flat when said binder is opened.

4. In a loose leaf binder, a pair of telescoping back members, a cover member clinched to each of said back members, a ratchet on one of said b k members, n a e o er tine pa l. on t e other back member.

In a loose a b n r, a air o b k. mem: bers, each of said members having its outer edge bent into channel shape to receive a cover member, a ratchet on one back member, and a coopera ng pawl n th er be knemb ha ing one end clinched inone channel, a, portion of the cover received by said channel serving as. a resilient backing to, strengthen the clinching ac-i tion on said pawl.

6. In a loose leaf binder, a pair ofback members having side walls integral therewith, prongsintegral with said back members extending from said sidewalls, cover members clinched by said side walls, a ratchet on one of said back members,

jections, a ring slidably mounted on said pawl member and adapted to bear against said guide channel to move said pawl out of engagement with said projections.

8. In a loose leaf binder, a back, a pair of side walls having doubled portions extending along the edges of said back, cover members secured to said wells between said doubled portions and swingable on axes below the top of said side walls, and a plurality of prongs extending transversely oi said back at. su stan ally e am h i ht a he h ight of said sid walls, w e y a plurality of sheets mounted on said prongs may lie subtentially fla h n said binder is opened- 9. In a loose leaf binder, a back member, a side wa l. having doubled portions extending along one edge of said back member, and a cover secured to said side wall between said doubled portions and forming a hinge at the bottom of said side wall. s

1. n a oo e leaf inder, a back m mb r, a s d wal ha n dou ed portions extendin alon on dge o said ack memb r, a flexible cover member clinched between Said doubled portions of said de wall and f rmin a hinge adjacent the botern of said side wall, and a sheet holding pro e member secured to said side wall adjac nt i s t p.

.1-, In a lo se leaf binder, a pai frp r the back memb rs, s d walls pr t upward- 1 from, said. back members, a pl t of p j tions struck out of one of said back members, a. guide channel, extending over. said projections, and a pawl member secured to the other back member, said pawl member extending beyond said guide channel to engage said projections to retain said back sections in co-OperatiVe relaonr hi 12. In a loose leaf binder, a pair of back members, side walls projecting upwardly from said back members, a plurality of projections struck out. of one of said back members, the other back member being provided with a guide channel extending over said projections, a pawl member secured to. said second mentioned back member and positioned over said guide channel, said pawl member having a tooth extending beyond said guide channel to engage said projections, and means operable between said pawl member and said guide channel to move said tooth into and out of engagement: with said projections.

13.. In a loose leaf binder, a pair of back membore, a pair of side walls secured to the outer edges of said back members, a ratchet on one of said back members, and a cooperating pawl having one end clinched between two component parts of the side wall of the other back member.

14, In a loose leaf binder, a pair of back members, a. pair of side walls extending along the outer edges of said back members, a plurality ofsheet holdingprongs secured to said side walls adjacent the top thereof, a plurality of projections struck out. of one of said back members, a guide channel extendingover said projections, and a pawl member secured to the other back member, said pawl member extending beyond said guide channel to engage said projections to remaintained in hinged relation to the cover along tain said back sections in co-operative relationthe fold, said tongues being disposed between the ship. covers proper, a sheath enclosing each tongue, 15. A binder comprising a pair of separate and binding means joining said tongues to each 5 covers, the binding margin of each being folded other.

against the cover proper to form a. binding tongue HENRY R. MoCLEARY.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1,999,734. April 30, 1935.

HENRY R. MCCLEARY.

it is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows; Page 1, second column, line 12, for "but" read by; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 11th day of Jane, A. D. 1935.

Leslie Frazer (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

